How to Configure EIGRP for IPv6 (EIGRPv6)

EIGRP for IPv6 or EIGRPv6 is the IPv6 compatible version of EIGRP routing protocol. The basic features of EIGRPv6 routing protocol remain same as EIGRP routing protocol. In order to configure EIGRP for IPv6, first of all, you should be familiar with the basics of EIGRP protocol. We recommend you to read this post “EIGRP Features” before you should read this post.

Once you are familiar with the EIGRP basics, create a topology on which you will configure EIGRP for IPv6. To do so, create the following topology in Cisco Packet Tracer or in GNS3.

Once you have created the preceding topology, configure the following IPv6 addresses on each router.

Once you have configured the preceding IPv6 addresses, you can start to configure EIGRP for IPv6 routing. In order to configure EIGRP for IPv6 routing, first, we would like to discuss the high-level steps used to configure EIGRPv6.

Enabling IPv6 routing: In order to enable IPv6 routing on a router, you need to use ipv6 unicast-routing command.

Creating an EIGRPv6 process: In order to create an EIGRPv6 process, you need to use the ipv6 router eigrp <autonomous number> command.

Assigning an EIGRPv6 router ID: In order to assign an EIGRPv6 router ID, you need to use the eigrp router-id <router-id> command.

Enabling EIGRPv6 on interfaces: In order to enable EIGRPv6 on an interface, you need to use the ipv6 eigrp <autonomous number> command in the interface configuration mode.

Configure EIGRP for IPv6 Step By Step

Once you have understood the high-level steps to configure EIGRPv6, let’s begin the configuration.

Next, create an EIGRPv6 process and define an autonomous system number, in this example 100. Further, also enable EIGRPv6 on the interfaces that you want to advertise in the network, in this example, we will enable EIGRPv6 on the loopback0 and FastEthernet0/0 interfaces.

Once, you have successfully configured EIGRP for IPv6 on all the routers. Now, it’s time to verify your configuration. To verify your configuration, examine the learned routes in the routing table.

To show the routing table, execute the following command on any router.

Router#show ipv6 route

In the preceding figure, you can see that 20001:ABCD:123:1::/64 network is added via EIGRPv6 (code D) protocol on Router3. You can also test your configuration by pinging 2001: ABCD:123:1::1/64 IPv6 address (of Router1) from Router3. You should be able to ping successfully.

EIGRPv6 Commands

After configuring EIGRPv6 routing on an IPv6-based network, you can explore some additional EIGRPv6 commands. These commands will help you to troubleshoot the EIGRPv6 routing issues.

You can view all the interfaces (except the passive interfaces) on which the EIGRPv6 process is running by executing the following command.

Router#show ipv6 eigrp interfaces

You can view all the EIGRPv6 neighbors (directly connected routers) by executing the following command.

Router#show ipv6 eigrp neighbors

EIGRP Successor and Feasible Successor

Before viewing the EIGRP topology table, you have to be familiar with the successor and Feasible Successor (FS) routes. The best route from source to destination on a network is known as successor route. EIGRP puts this route in the routing table. The FS is the second best route that becomes the successor route when the successor route fails. This route is available in the topology table. Whether it is EIGRPv4 or EIGRPv6, both have the same concept of FS route.

You can view the EIGRPv6 topology table by executing the following command.

Router#show ipv6 eigrp topology

Finally, there is one more important EIGRPv6 command that is used to show the EIGRP traffic.

Router#show ipv6 eigrp traffic

Removing EIGRPv6 Routing

If you have done something wrong, such as adding a network that does not exist in your network, you can solve it by removing the unnecessary routes. To remove a network from the EIGRP routing table, execute the following commands.